Asking to Work From Home as a Reasonable Adjustment

Homeworking is not automatically an adjustment

Working from home is one possible adjustment among many. It is not automatically reasonable in every role or every organisation, and an employer may propose something different that addresses the same barrier — a change to hours, a quieter workspace, different equipment, or fewer on-site days rather than none.

Adjustment request or flexible working request?

A flexible working request is a general request about hours, pattern or place, handled under the statutory process described on GOV.UK. An adjustment request is about removing a barrier connected to a health condition or disability. You can make either, and sometimes both — but say which one you intend, because they follow different routes internally.

Explain the barrier, not just the preference

Set out what specifically makes attendance or on-site working difficult — for example fatigue after travel, the effect of the commute on symptoms, or an environment that worsens them. Then connect that to what homeworking would change.

Show how the work would be done

• • Which duties can be done remotely, and which cannot.
• • How the on-site duties would be covered — fixed office days, cover arrangements, or scheduling them together.
• • Your working hours and how you would be contactable.
• • Equipment or software you would need at home.
• • How you would handle meetings, handovers and busy periods.

Propose a trial

A defined trial with a review date is often easier to agree than a permanent change. Suggest a period, say what you would both look at when reviewing it, and ask for the arrangement and the review date to be confirmed in writing.

If it is refused

Ask for the reasons in writing and for the alternatives the employer considered. A refusal of one adjustment does not end the discussion — you can ask them to consider partial homeworking, a change to duties, or a different adjustment altogether.